Children's Home run by Changing Lives Care Group Ltd in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 1 Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to three children who may have complex needs and require specialist support.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, no children were living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 5 December 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2023 Full Good 08/03/2023 Full Good 10/11/2021 Full Good 03/12/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has lived in the home. They recently moved to another home in the organisation. The child made good progress at this home. Staff worked with the child to improve their self-esteem, social skills and emotional well-being. Staff acknowledged the child’s progress milestones with thoughtful rewards and verbal praise. This enhanced the child’s sense of achievement and led to them no longer needing to live in a solo environment.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s move was well planned and in accordance with their wishes. The child regularly visited their new home, met the staff who would be caring for them, and received ongoing support to discuss their move. This approach helped the child feel well prepared for their move. The manager and staff commemorated the child’s time in the home with a celebratory meal and memory book. Staff regularly visit and speak to the child who has moved out. This has supported the child in maintaining the positive relationships they built while living in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager was persistent in communicating with other professionals and challenged the placing local authority regarding plans for the child’s education, especially when delays occurred. As a result, an appropriate education provision was identified for the child. The child made progress with their academic engagement and learning.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child participated in a range of activities and experiences, including short breaks to the seaside, trips to the cinema, theme parks and a gaming lounge. Through these activities, the child was encouraged to share experiences with others and enjoy life.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff supported the child in maintaining relationships with people who are important to them. The child regularly spent meaningful time with family members in the home and community. This helped the child to feel secure and connected to people who are important to them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Regular meetings and planned conversations took place with the child. These discussions covered a wide variety of topics, including helping the child to express their feelings. This ensured that the child’s views were central to the decisions made in the home, and they were supported to feel that their voice was heard.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The child had a mostly settled experience living at this home. Staff responded appropriately when the child displayed challenging behaviour. Staff used proportionate and reflective consequences to help the child develop appropriate behaviour.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff had a good understanding of the child’s vulnerabilities and the risks they faced. Staff supported the child by helping them understand their risks and vulnerabilities in an Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 4 informed way. Detailed conversations regularly took place with the child on matters such as internet safety and staying safe in the community. Staff supported the child in taking age-appropriate risks to develop the child’s risk awareness. These approaches helped the child understand how to stay safe and encouraged them to spend positive, independent time in the community.

p.3

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Restraint is only used as a last resort. When staff used restraint, it was proportionate, appropriate and necessary. When this occurred, the child was spoken to and provided aftercare. The manager ensured that evaluative reviews took place after the restraint occurred. This helped the staff identify additional support for the child, enabling them to manage their emotions more positively.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The child developed strong and protective relationships with staff. As a result of these relationships, the child did not go missing from the home.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are protected by the organisation’s safer recruitment practices. Staff are assessed as suitable before any appointment is made. This ensures that staff who work in the home are suitable to work with children and prevents unsuitable adults from working with children.

p.4

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home’s location is regularly assessed and reviewed by the manager. This assessment contains up-to-date information from relevant people. This ensures that the provider has an accurate understanding of the risks and benefits presented by the location of the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and qualified. He is dedicated to his role and an excellent role model. Staff speak highly of the manager’s supportive nature. One staff member said, ‘Under the manager’s guidance, the home has consistently provided an environment that supports and nurtures both children and us as staff.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a wide range of training, and all have completed the mandatory training. The manager sources additional training in topics he feels will enhance the staff’s practice and delivers informative workshops in team meetings. This has enhanced staff’s knowledge and supported them to provide individual care.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals. These are reflective, and they focus on supporting staff in developing their practice to enhance the care provided to children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and parents involved with the home provide positive feedback about the manager and staff. One professional said:

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘Staff and the manager formed a strong and trusting relationship with the child during his stay, and they reciprocated this. The team demonstrated that they knew Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 5 and understood the child’s needs and were instrumental in aiding and supporting them to make incredible progress.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager regularly consults children, professionals and parents. However, he has not always included the feedback in his six-monthly review of the home. Consequently, he may miss opportunities to review and improve the quality of care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported in achieving the relevant level 3 qualification. Staff are either qualified or working towards this. However, one staff member has not achieved this within the required time frame. This prevents all staff from having the necessary skills relevant to their role. Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 6

p.5

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.6

Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

p.6

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.6

Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

p.6

Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

p.6

Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.6

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or 30 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 7 in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should carry out a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. The report should include analysis and evaluation of challenges. It should also include direct feedback from children, professionals and parents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.2)

p.7

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Ltd

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 7, 35 to 37 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JN

p.8

Inspector

Syvanna Matthew, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 9 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9